Automatic sheet feeding apparatus



June 18, 1940. s, FQWERAKER 2,204,985

"Mu mur J 1940- T. s. FOWERAKER AUTOMATIC swam FEEDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1939 INV ENTOR'. THOMHS SHIRLEY FOWERHKER FITTORNEI Patented June is, 2 204 935 Thomas Shirley Foweraker, Bristol, England, as-

signor to E. S. & A. Robinson, Limited, Bristol, England, a company or Great Britain and Northern Ireland Application October 16, 1939, Serial so; 299,651 In Great Britain October 17, 1938 3 Claims. (Cl. 271-82).

This invention relates to automatic sheet feed-' ing apparatus intended more especially for association with printing and like machines although the invention-is equally applicable to other machines where it is requisite that sheets should be fed singly from a pile which itself has to be constantly replenished.

In automatic sheet feeding apparatus heretofore constructed for feeding the top sheet of a pile of sheets by means of automatic separation and forwarding mechanism, the pile of sheets is generally carried on a table or board which is supported by a detachable framework or a set of lifting bars or other suitable mechanism In the drawings 1 indicater'a pile of sheets from which the top sheet is taken by any known means of automaticseparation andforwarding mechanism. The pile of sheets is carried on a table or board 2 which is supported by a set of lifting bars 3 connected toa series of four'primary chains 4 which are caused to rise automaticallyby a picking device in the known manner, 5 indicates a set of'four secondary chains which are associated with the sheet feeding apparatus and are caused to rise automatically by an independentpicking device or a picking device common to both primary and secondary sets of chains may be employed. The secondary chains attached to a series of four rising chains (here- 5 are used alternatively with the primary chains after called primary chains) which are caused to 4 and carry a pair of adjustable lifting bars 6 rise automatically by a picking device actuated which in turn support loose laths or the like i by the top of the pile as the latter is rising, thus which are initially placed under each pile of sheets keeping the top sheet at a constant or approxiwhen the latter is put in position on the table mately constant height relative to the automatic 2 and so disposed 'as to project beyond the edges separating and forwarding mechanism. When of the table and beyond the lifting bars 6. The each P load of Sheets is used up, the table lifting bars 6 and the slats I take care of the or board is disconnected from the lifting mechcontinuation of the lift of the sheets while ananism i. e. the framework or lifting bars and other pile of sheets is being placed in position a new pile complete with table is wheeled or and engage with the primary chains through the pushed into position. intermediary of the lifting bars 3.

The foregoing arrangement gives rise to con- The invention provides an arrangement wheresiderable loss of time spent in exchanging an by when a pile of sheets is nearly completely emptied pile table for a full one. fed by the primary chains 4 the lifting bars 6 0 According to this invention a second set of f attached to the secondary chains 5 can be enchains (hereafter called secondary chains) is gaged with the laths l or the like and, after combined with the sheet feeding apparatus which changing over from th primary plcking d i are caused to se au o y y an epe dto the secondary picking device or switching over ent picking device or a picking device common a single picking device'common to both sets of to both primary and secondary sets of chains chains, the remainder of the pile I can be conand actuated in a similar manner, such sectinued to be fed sheet by sheet, during which O y Chains being Capable of being ed 5111- time the empty'table or board 2 can be lowered tern iv y Wi the p i ry chains and carrying and exchanged for another table or board carrya pair of adjustable lifting bars or other suitable ing a full pile.

40 mechanism to support or carry loose laths or the Hand or motor driven devices are provided like which are initially placed under each pile for raising or lowering either set of chains, and upo each table or b d a d p o e t beyon thus the top of the new pile can be raised into the edges of each table or board and beyond the, contact with the laths 1 or the like and be made adjustable lifting bars mentioned above, and to to support the weight of the last remaining be engaged therewith to take car of the end sheets of the first pile supported by the laths of the run of the pile of sheets whilst another or the like, after which the secondary picking pile of sheets is being placed in position and device is disconnected and the primary picking engaged with the primary chains. device is again brought into action. The laths In order that the invention may be clearly or the like are then withdrawn from under the understood, reference is directed to the accomfew remaining sheets, which then rest in correct panying drawings, wherein: position entirely on the new pile and automatic Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate diagrammatically feeding continues in the ordinary manner until automatic sheet feeding apparatus in accordance this pile is nearly completely fed and so on.

with the invention, and showing respectively three Preferably the four secondary chains 4 are arstages of operation. ranged within the compass of the four primary chains being parallel with the lifting bars 3 of the primary chains.

It will be clearly seen from the above description that there is absolutely no time wasted in the changing of the piles and that automatic feeding from piles is therefore continuous and without break, because the whole of the opera! tions of changing piles takes place whilst the automatic sheet feeder-continues to function.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Automatic sheet feeding apparatus of the kind employing a set of lifting bars or other suitable mechanism attached to a series of primary chains wherein a set of secondary chains is combined with the apparatus and are caused to rise automatically by a picking device, such secondary chains being capable of being used alternatively with the primary chains and carrying a pair of adjustable lifting bars to support or carry loose laths or the like which are initially placed under each pile upon each table or board and project beyond the edges of each table or board and beyond the adjustable lifting bars mentioned above, and to be engaged therewith to take care of the end of the run of the pile of sheets whilst another pile of sheets is being placed in position and engaged with the primary chains, the organization being such that the operation of the printing machine is continued while a new pile of sheets is being introduced into the sheet feeding apparatus.

2. Sheet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the secondary chains are four in number and are arranged within the compass of four primary chains.

3. Automatic sheet feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lifting bars of the primary chains are arranged at right angles to the lifting bars of the secondary chains so that the laths supported by the lifting bars of the secondary chains are parallel with the lifting bars of the primary chains.

THOMAS SHIRLEY FOWERAKER. 

